Breeding adult (Eastern)

Breeding adult (Eastern)

Eastern Meadowlark

Identification

Streaked brown above with distinctive black "V" on breast and yellow below. In flight, short wings and spiky tail with white outer edges apparent. Bill is as long as the head and pointy. Beautiful song rings throughout grasslands in summer. Duller plumage in winter, blending into grasses even more. Similar to Western Meadowlark. Where ranges overlap in summer, listen for different song and look for mostly white malar (less yellow on throat) on Eastern. In winter, Eastern is more likely to be alone, rather than in a flock, and favors more extensive, pristine grasslands than Western. Eastern also has bolder, more contrasting head pattern.